A Pakistani man who attempted to establish the nation's first gay club upon returning from the UK has been admitted to a mental hospital. The man, whose identity remains undisclosed, submitted an application to establish the club in Abbottabad, a conservative city in the northern region of the country, home to nearly 240 million people.
In his application addressed to city officials, the man expressed that the proposed club, named Lorenzo, would serve as a "great convenience and resource for many homosexual, bisexual, and even some heterosexual individuals residing in Abbottabad and other parts of the country."
However, gay sex is outlawed in Pakistan, carrying potential prison sentences of up to two years. Additionally, the deeply conservative societal norms make it challenging to openly express one's sexuality.
Consequently, the man was transferred to Sarhad Hospital for psychiatric disorders in Peshawar on May 9, following significant backlash and criticism from local citizens and politicians.
The leader of the conservative religious group Jamiat Ulema Islam (JUI) alleged that the applicant had recently returned from a trip to the UK and attempted to establish the club.
Furthermore, a local MP from the far-right Pakistan Awami Tehreek party threatened to set the club on fire, while the party's leader, Naseer Khan Nazir, warned of "severe consequences" if the club were permitted to proceed.
Concerns for the man's well-being were raised by his unnamed friends, who revealed their inability to visit him or obtain information about his condition due to fear of reprisals.
Expressing their apprehension, one friend stated, "Everyone is afraid that discussing it will jeopardize their safety. I have not heard about his well-being for many days," adding that their attempts to ascertain his status had been unsuccessful.
Prior to his admission to the mental hospital, the man emphasized his advocacy for human rights, asserting, "I talk about human rights, and I want everyone's human rights to be protected."
He vowed to continue his efforts in advocating for the rights of marginalized communities in Pakistan, expressing confidence in the legal system's potential to uphold the rights of gay individuals, citing similar precedents in India.
His application for the club emphasized a strict policy against sexual activity on the premises, with visible warnings prohibiting any form of sexual conduct, in compliance with legal regulations
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